BEN’S SORRY WITH A BROLLY
Stokes apologises for his part in the Bristol brawl but both he and Hales can carry on playing
BEN STOKES admits he has learned his lesson after being allowed to continue his England career.
The all-rounder publicly apologised for the first time for his street brawl in Bristol last year after admitting at a Cricket Disciplinary Committee hearing that he brought the game into disrepute.
Stokes said: “Although the disciplinary process is now over, I’ve learned lessons that will stay with me for much longer. I’ve already apologised to my team-mates, coaches and support staff for the consequences of my actions in Bristol.
“I regret the incident ever happened and I apologise to England supporters and the public for bringing the game into disrepute.
“Cricket and family are my life. This incident has been a huge burden for the last 15 months. I’m relieved to get back playing the game I love without this hanging over me.”
The 27-year-old was effectively banned by the panel for six matches for his part in the early hours fight outside a nightclub and another two over a video in which he appears to be mocking the disabled son of Katie Price. The panel decided he had already served his punishment having missed a total of 16 England games from the date of the fight, including an Ashes tour to Australia. He was also fined £30,000.
Stokes stood trial for affray in August and was found not guilty by Bristol Crown Court.
Batsman Alex Hales, who had been out with Stokes when violence flared, was fined £17,500 by the committee, £10,000 of which was suspended for 12 months.
He also admitted breaching ECB rules, including inappropriate images on social media, and was banned for six games, two of which he has already served, with the remaining four suspended. He never faced criminal charges.
Being free to play in the West Indies and continue his career without further delay is the best outcome Stokes could have hoped for.
That he was cleared by a court and had to bear the heavy financial cost of the legal process was taken into consideration when the threeman CDC decided on the level of his fine. Stokes will donate £15,000 of it to charity.
Half of the £30,000 was imposed in relation to the video.
Both the players and their team-mates will be able to focus uninterrupted now on the biggest year in English cricket history as they try to win the World Cup on home soil and regain the Ashes.
Stokes will be a huge part of both those campaigns. On the recent tour to Sri Lanka he was described as “exemplary” on and off the field by England coach Trevor Bayliss.